Trump Tells African Leaders he ‘Deeply Respects’ the People of Africa

Follows Reported ‘Shithole’ Remarks

Donald Trump reportedly signed a letter advising African leaders that he “deeply respects” the people of Africa ahead of this weekend’s African Union summit.

“The letter — a copy of which was obtained by NBC News — is dated Thursday and was sent ahead of the African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopia,” NBC reported Saturday. “The correspondence comes after Trump caused widespread outrage by reportedly referring to African nations as ‘shithole countries’ in a bipartisan immigration meeting earlier this month.”

“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump reportedly said, in a reference to African nations and Haiti.  Those comments followed the New York Times report that the president complained that Haitian immigrants “all have AIDS” and that Nigerian immigrants would never “go back to their huts” in Africa after entering the United States.

The comments were widely-condemned by African leaders, including the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo. “The language of @realDonaldTrump that the African continent, Haiti and El Salvador are ‘shithole countries’ is extremely unfortunate,” Akufo-Addo shared on Twitter. “We are certainly not a ‘shithole country’. We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful.”

As NBC further reported:

In the letter, Trump says the United States “profoundly respects” the partnerships and values shared by the U.S. and Africans. The president also underscores his commitment to “strong and respectful relationships with African states.”

Trump offers his “best wishes for a successful summit” and notes that U.S. and African troops are “fighting side by side to defeat terrorists and build secure communities.”

The president adds in his letter that the U.S. is working to increase “free, fair and reciprocal trade” with African countries and partnering to “safeguard legal immigration.”

The report also advised that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would make an “extended visit” to Africa in March, though no additional details were provided.

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